Industrial dust mop vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

An improved, electric motor driven dust mop vacuum cleaner is provided that employs rotating brushes, high vacuum, and an efficient air filtration system. The rotating brushes housed in a closely fitting tub remove the dust and dirt from the dust mops and by means of impellers in the vacuum motor chamber. The dust and dirt are then passed on to the air filtration system. The air filtration system consisting of an intake port, removable particulate trapping tray, and exhaust port filters, remove the particulates from the air before returning it to the environment. The particulate trapping tray located at the base of the unit and behind a hinged door, contains an effective particulate trapping liquid. The entire apparatus is movable by means of casters mounted on the base of the unit.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] This present invention relates to industrial dust mop cleaners, and in particular those employing rotating brushes, high vacuum, and efficient air filtration methods for cleaning dust mops.

[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0005] In the past, even with the available industrial dust mop cleaners covered by patent 3,361,175, which was more cost effective, industrial dust mops have generally been cleaned by laundering or dry cleaning. However, laundering or dry cleaning have proven to be high cost maintenance and patent 3,361,175 actually put more dust back into the atmosphere, making it an unhealthy method. Traditional mop cleaning methods have damaged mops, thereby reducing cleaning efficiency and reducing their effective useful life. The damaged mops, which remain in service, are less able to pick up dirt, resulting in the need for more frequent major floor maintenance, all leading to increased cost to the consumer.

SUMMARY

[0006] This present invention relates to new and useful improvements in industrial dust mop cleaners, and in particular by employing high vacuum and efficient air filtration methods to an electrically operated rotating brush protected by a guard, cover, and mop guide, to improve the cleanliness of the industrial dust mops being cleaned. In addition the improvements prevent damage to the mops, reduce particulate levels in ambient air, and provide safety to the operator during cleaning of dust mops.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0007] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:

[0008] (a) to provide an industrial dust mop cleaner which safely, rapidly, and efficiently cleans dust mops;

[0009] (b) to provide an industrial dust mop cleaner which significantly reduces dust and dirt returned to the ambient air during the cleaning process;

[0010] (c) to provide an industrial dust mop cleaner which is easy to operate and maintain;

[0011] (d) to provide an industrial dust mop cleaner which cleans dust mops without the use of harsh or hazardous chemicals;

[0012] (e) to provide an industrial dust mop cleaner which reduces the overall cost of cleaning dust mops;

[0013] (f) to provide an industrial dust mop cleaner which yields mops capable of collecting more dust and dirt thereby producing cleaner floors;

[0014] (g) to provide an industrial dust mop cleaner which yields mops which will contribute significantly to reducing the frequency of major floor maintenance.

[0015] Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0016]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the industrial dust mop vacuum cleaner of the present invention showing in a partial cut away, the air filtration features.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a vertical section view through the present invention as viewed from the front side taken along the lines of 2-2 of FIG. 3.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a vertical section view through the present invention as viewed from the right side taken along the lines of 3-3 of FIG. 2.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

[0019] 19 filter 20 intake port 21 exhaust port  4 metal cover 22 piano hinge  5 frame 23 brush drive motor  6 door 24 pulley  7 removable brush cover 25 brush shaft  8 dust mop guide 26 ‘V’ belt  9 brush guard 27 bearings 10 brush 28 guard adjustment 11 switch 29 close fitting tub 12 AC supply 30 coupler 13 vent 26 fan housing 14 removable metal panel cover 32 impeller 15 casters 33 vacuum fan electric motor 16 dust collector box 34 mounting bracket 17 dust collector box grips 35 air seal 18 dust-collecting liquid 36 door handle

DESCRIPTION

[0020] Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the preferred features of the present, industrial dust mop vacuum cleaner, which has been illustrated, are contained within metal covers 4 on top, bottom, front, back and right end of the assembly, permanently attached to frame 5; a metal door on the left end containing vents 13, a handle 36; and a removable metal cover 14 on the front of the assembly containing vents 13. Door 6 is attached to the frame 5 by a piano hinge 22 and held closed by a suitable latch.

[0021] Maintenance of the industrial dust mop vacuum cleaner is facilitated by door 6, removable metal cover 14, and by removable brush cover 7. Door 6 is opened to remove the dust collector box 16 by its grips 17 for disposing of dust collected in the dusting collecting liquid 18 into suitable disposal devices and for replacement or cleaning of filter 19 on an infrequent but periodic basis. Door 6 also provides access to electric motor 23 and V belt 26 when maintenance is required. Removable metal cover 14 provides access to vacuum fan electric motor 33 when maintenance is required. Brush cover 7 is removed and door 6 is opened for replacement of brush 10 or bearings 27.

[0022] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

OPERATIONS

[0023] The stiff bristle brush 10, which rotates in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3, is attached to the metal shaft 25 by suitable locking pins and supported by self aligning pillow block bearings, 27 attached to frame 5 by suitable threaded fasteners and rotated by pulley 24 secured to shaft 25, V belt 26 encircling the pulleys 24. Lower pulley 24 is attached to drive shaft of and driven by electric motor 23. Electric motor 23 is adjustably attached to frame 5 by suitable threaded fasteners through slotted holes in frame 5. The metal brush cover 7 incorporating a cylindrical broom handle stop and guide 8 is attached to the top of the assembly directly over the brush 10 by suitable threaded fasteners. The brush cover 7 is of such dimension to accommodate industrial dust mops mounted on their grips and with their long axis parallel to the guide 8. A metal brush guard 9 comprised of seven or more equally spaced rods conforming to the circumference of the brush is attached to the brush cover 7 by suitable threaded fasteners through slots that permit adjustment as shown by 28. This adjustment accommodated brush 10 diameter variations and user preferences on depth of brushing of the dust mops. The brush cover 7 and the brush guard 9 are of such dimensions to prevent dust mops or hands from being drawn between the brush 10 and the brush cover 7 or any other parts of the invention.

[0024] The metal tub 29 attached to frame 5 by suitable fasteners in which the brush 10 rotates and coupler 30 permanently attached to metal tub 29 direct dust to the metal centrifugal vacuum fan assembly comprised of housing 31, vacuum impeller 32, electric motor 33, and mounting bracket 34. The opening from the centrifugal vacuum fan housing 31 through air seal 35 directs dust to the intake port 20 and then into collector box 16, containing dust-collecting liquid 18. The dust collection box has grips 18 for easy removal. The entire assembly is supported by lockable caster wheel assemblies 15 at the bottom four comers attached to frame 5 by suitable threaded fasteners; and contains electrical switch 11 and 120 V AC supply attachment 12, which transmit electrical current to the electrical motors 23 and 33.

[0025] It is thought that the operation of the industrial dust mop vacuum cleaner will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, to clean an industrial dust mop the electrical cord is first connected to a suitable electrical power outlet. Then the electrical switch 11 is switched to the on position to simultaneously begin rotation of the brush 10 and vacuum fan impeller 32 by energizing electric motors 23 and 33. An industrial dust mop is then placed on top of brush guard 9 with the long axis of the mop parallel to the guide 8 and with the mop surface down and the mop handle vertical and held against the guide 8. In this position the individual strands of the dust mop are combed by the movement of brush 10 but are restrained by brush guard 9 from becoming entangle in the brush 10 or housing 7. Vacuum created by the centrifugal vacuum fan assembly pulls the dust and debris removed from the mop strands by the brush 10 into the dust collector box 16, where the dust and debris drops into the dust collector box 16 as gravity on the dust and debris overcomes the horizontal velocity of the dust and debris in the air and is further trapped by the dust-collecting liquid 18. The dust mop may be moved back and forth across the brush guard 9 by the mop handle in directions parallel to guide 8 for additional cleaning by the brush 10 and removal of dust and debris by the centrifugal vacuum fan assembly. Air filter 19 at the terminus of the exhaust port 21 performs the final cleaning before exiting as clean air into the environment. When the dust mop is adequately cleaned in a matter of a few seconds the dust mop may be removed from the brush guard 9 and other brushed similarly cleaned. When all available dust mops have been similarly cleaned the electrical power cord disconnected for economy and safety reasons. The lockable caster wheel assemblies 15 permit easy and convenient relocation and storage of the industrial dust mop vacuum cleaner.

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0026] It is apparent that the industrial dust mop cleaner of this invention can be easily used to efficiently clean industrial dust mops. In addition, the industrial dust mop cleaner will lengthen the life of dust 

I claim:
 1. An improved industrial dust mop vacuum cleaning apparatus incorporating a centrifugal high vacuum fan assembly comprised of fan housing 31, impeller 32, and electric motor 33, connected to a close fitting tub 29 in which the cleaning brush 10 rotates and covered by close fitting brush cover 7 which provide high vacuum to extract dust and debris from dust mops cleaned therewith.
 2. An improved industrial dust mop vacuum cleaning apparatus incorporating an air filtration system comprised of air seal 35, intake port 20, dust collector box 16 containing dust-collecting liquid 18 for dust particle entrapment, exhaust port 21, screen 13, and air filter 19 for the final removal of dust and debris from the air used to clean the dust mop prior to returning that air into the environment. This configuration assures that dust and debris do not bypass the air filtration system.
 3. An improved industrial dust mop vacuum cleaning apparatus incorporating a removable dust collector box 16 that contains dust-collecting liquid 18 to assure that dust and debris cannot bypass the air filtration system but are completely collected in the air filtration system.
 4. An improved industrial dust mop vacuum cleaning apparatus incorporating a single clockwise rotating brush 10 whose axial length is greater than an industrial dust mop and is covered by adjustable brush guard 9 and brush cover 7, and incorporating brush guide 8, all in a configuration that provides superior dust mop cleaning by uniformly brushing all the strands of the dust mop without damage to the dust mop while preventing entrapment of the dust mop or the hands of the operator in the improved industrial dust mop vacuum cleaning apparatus.
 5. An improved industrial dust mop vacuum cleaning apparatus incorporating a hinged door 6 and removable cover 14 to provide easy access to the air filter 19, dust collector box 16, electric motors 23 and 32, and V belt 26 which require access for periodic maintenance. 